Napoleonic Imperial Courier (2 Viewers)

[blaster]

I had tried to model one of these figures many years ago but lost interest when the pose was intractable.
I have gathered the figure and will model him hefting his heavy saddle in those boots.

 

[Obee]

Interesting figure, looks like the early era of the Empire.

I have one, which is by French maker MHSP.



It's part of their 'Retreat from Moscow' set of figures.



John

 

[Obee]

Victor,

I thought that I had an image of my courier, and here he is .... BUT mine is a Courier of Marshal Berthier c1809.


In the Knoetel prints there is another, an Imperial Courier c1807



Interesting ???

John

 

[blaster]

Hi John,

Thanks for sharing those pics. I have them too. My figure is based on Ospreys Nap's Imp HQ (2) Elite 116 by Ron Pawly. Sorry about the photo but I dont have access to a scanner for now.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I altered the pose a little.

 

[blaster]

Fixing the pose. I've also started to detail the figure. For example, I've rebuilt the back flaps to realign with the new pose. Also, I've shaved own the back to show a bit of hunching as he is lugging around a heavy saddle.

 

[blaster]

I've shortened the back flaps (coattails) and added turnbacks.

Looking at what John shared, his imperial courier (Knotel) is dated 1807. My reference (Osprey) is dated up to 1806. So there appears to have been a uniform upgrade to longer coattails and a bicorne around this period.

 

[blaster]

I came back to this piece. To make the buttons, I took out my very expensive die tool and punched out the buttons, 0.8 and 0.9 mm, from plastic sheet.
The trousers were sculpted. They have a crinkly look to their folds.

 

[Napoleon1er]

It looks great!

Sandor

 

[blaster]

Hello Sandor and all,

Hope you are enjoying this brace of Nappie threads.

There are several ways to heave a saddle around. I decided that this Imp Courier, being an experienced fellow, would decide to do it one-handed. Besides, it allows me to display his uniform clearly upfront.
I filed the inside of the saddle to let it fit nicely against one leg and braced underneath his right armpit. Then the saddleflaps were reshaped accordingly. The right arm is now being sculpted.

I also raised the height of his collar.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Sculpted the figure to this stage.

 

[Hazebrouck]

I came back to this piece. To make the buttons, I took out my very expensive die tool and punched out the buttons, 0.8 and 0.9 mm, from plastic sheet.
The trousers were sculpted. They have a crinkly look to their folds.

View attachment 260577

Hi Victor,

Can you show us your very expensive die tool for punching out the buttons?

Scott

 

[blaster]

Hi Scott,

I got the tool from Historex Agents. They also have a similar tool for hexagonal outlines for making rivets.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

So here's the figure with an undercoat of enamels. At this stage, it really doesn't look like much, does it?...

 

[Hazebrouck]

Hi Scott,

I got the tool from Historex Agents. They also have a similar tool for hexagonal outlines for making rivets.

Rgds Victor

View attachment 260914View attachment 260915

Thanks Victor.

That looks like a useful tool to have around.

Scott

 

[blaster]

A bit more progress.

 

[blaster]

I reattached the saddle to the figure.

 

[blaster]

I started to prepare several bases, including a paved road slope for this figure.

 

[Mirof]

For coins I use this :
Tool to punch holes in a belt

 

[blaster]

Good idea but I think the belt hole puncher works for larger scales. For the small scale, the RPZ tool seems very suitable for miniature buttons.

The idea is simple - make your own punch tool with cut off ends of brass or steel rods. Then drill corresponding holes thru two thick plastic acrylic slabs which are screwed together for alignment.

However, I found the RPZ tool reasonably well made with so many hole sizes so I think that the price is not unreasonable.